Thousands of first-time mums are due to take part in a UK study to understand why some will develop high blood pressure and complications with the placenta during pregnancy, and whether it effects their long-term health.
In the first large scale study of its kind in the UK, women will be monitored before, during and after their first pregnancy to see what factors might be influencing the health of their placenta. The study will also explore how these factors can impact women’s long-term risk of developing cardiovascular conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.
By understanding this risk, the hope is that the health of women who develop placental complications can be improved over their lifetime.
The study is now opening-up at City St George’s, University of London in Tooting, which aims to recruit 500 women who are planning to get pregnant for the first time.
Professor Asma Khalil, Professor of Obstetrics and Maternal Fetal Medicine at City St George’s, University of London is leading the study at St George’s Hospital. She said:
“There is so much more we need to understand to help advance women’s health. We aim to unveil fresh insights into what causes abnormalities during pregnancy, and if the damaging effects linger to trigger longer-term cardiovascular health issues later in life.”
“This is also a unique opportunity for women thinking about getting pregnant for the first time to have a cardiovascular MOT from the moment they join the study, through to birth and beyond.”
Placental complications are common, affecting around one in 10 pregnancies. Women who experience placental complications are twice as likely to develop heart disease and diabetes later in life, compared with women who have a healthy pregnancy.
Complications include pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure that impacts other organs such as the kidneys), gestational hypertension (high blood pressure in pregnancy) and fetal growth restriction (when the baby grows small in the womb), which can all lead to serious complications for both mother and baby if they are not monitored or treated.
High blood pressure, diabetes, autoimmune conditions, age and being obese before pregnancy are just some of the factors likely to increase the risk of pre-eclampsia and placental dysfunction, but it is unclear if and why there are other causes.
Professor Khalil added: “What is not clear is whether these women have unrecognised health problems before pregnancy that also led to these problems later in life, or whether problems with the placenta during pregnancy – causing high blood pressure or poor growth – harmed the mother, leading to later-life issues. This is an important question we are trying to answer. The answer would help us determine the best way to treat or prevent these pregnancy complications and long-term cardiovascular health problems from happening.”
Participants will attend up to seven hospital visits, depending on whether they become pregnant within 12 months of their first visit. At the hospital visits, participants will have their height, weight, blood pressure and heart function measured. They will also have a blood test to measure a variety of health markers and receive free pregnancy and ovulation tests.
